Ranger Kim stands over grass denuded by feral cows along the hillside near Telegraph Road during his patrol at Chino Hills State Park on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013.

Photo: Watchara Phomicinda, Associated Press

Ranger Kim stands over grass denuded by feral cows along the...

Image 4 of 7

Tour director Michel Langelier,of Misa Tours, (left center) passes out lunches to the twenty one French visitors he is guiding at Calaveras Big Trees State Park on Friday Oct. 11, 2013, in Arnold, Calif.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Tour director Michel Langelier,of Misa Tours, (left center) passes...

Image 5 of 7

China Camp visitor Remy Wilson walks past one of the old shrimping boats on display on the beach.

Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle

China Camp visitor Remy Wilson walks past one of the old shrimping...

Image 6 of 7

With millions of visitors every year, as well as sensitive ecological and archaeological treasures that need safeguarding, the scenic Point Lobos State Reserve south of Carmel enchants visitors.

Photo: Kerrick James

With millions of visitors every year, as well as sensitive...

Image 7 of 7

Holly Tate, of Santa Cruz climbs Goat Rock, a popular climbing spot at Castle Rock State Park on Wednesday August 17, 2011, in Los Gatos.

It's not a return to the golden years of a little more than a decade ago, when state-park entry fees were $2 and campsites cost $12. But the new money gives a lot of hope:

-- State parks: The budget proposed by Gov. Brown provides an additional $14 million to maintain current service levels plus a one-time $40 million windfall to pay for the worst of the deferred maintenance backlog. That's a lot of dough and there are no details yet how it will be spent. Parks director Anthony Jackson released a "Strategic Action Plan" that sets forth a new ethic for state parks, in which he promised "the cleanest park facilities and restrooms in the country."

-- Marin parks: Money from Measure A, passed in November 2012, is arriving into park coffers. The county hired five rangers, renovated Paradise Beach, Miller Boat Ramp, McNears Beach and other parks/preserves, and reduced fire danger at King Mountain, Blithedale Summit, Baltimore Canyon and Camino Alto preserves. At 15 high-use trailheads, park staff installed dog-waste stations. This is all just a start.

-- Peninsula Open Space: As part of its new 40-year plan, the Midpeninsula Open Space District announced 54 projects for its 26 preserves. A highlight is to complete a Purisima-to-Sea Trail.

-- East Bay parks: In December, a $5.7 million project was completed that restored Crown Beach and its dune system on the shore of San Francisco Bay. Among many projects, park workers supervised many volunteers who wired together and submerged 1,000 Christmas trees to create fish habitat at Quarry Lakes. Next: Finish the new trail to connect a bike route from Martinez to Crockett.